6 NEW dollar store finds and DIYs for FALL and HALLOWEEN

I love budget-friendly seasonal / holiday decor, and today I have some fantastic dollar store finds and DIYs for Fall and Halloween. A few of the pieces are multi-functional... and they are all easy, inexpensive, and super cute. I even created a YouTube video that will allow you to get a closer look at everything!

1) Multi use Book Stack - I found this faux book stack at the dollar store, and I knew I could easily make it a reversable version that would work for Fall AND Halloween.

I covered the existing words with a couple of coats of white chalk paint, and then I added the words "farm fresh pumpkins" that I printed on my Cricut. I added a bit of twine and a yarn pom pom pumpkin. Cute, right?

Then, I flipped around the book stack and added the words "spells and potions", which I cut out with my Cricut. I finished by sliding the twine to the opposite side, and adding a dollar store LED light.

2) Pumpkin with a gold stem - I love all the different styles of pumpkins that you can buy at the dollar store, but the one with the gold stem really caught my eye.

I also thought it would fun to give the orange pumpkin a "glam" Halloween makeover. I painted it with black paint from the dollar store (2 coats). Then, I used dollar store metallic gold paint to add polka dots. Didn't it turn out great?

It looks super-cute with the irridescent vase (from the dollar store) and a print I designed in a dollar store vase. You can download a FREE copy of the "Hello Pumpkin" print here.

3) Simple seasonal soap - I think this idea is genius. Peel the label from a dollar store soap dispenser, and add a seasonal window cling. It's simple, but looks great!

4) Seasonal candles - Window clings can also add a seasonal flair to candles... in just a few seconds.

They stick easily to most surfaces, but you could use a bit of glue if you want them extra secure.

5) Inexpensive wall hangings - You can also make inexpensive wall hangings with dollar store window clings and stickers.

6) Front door wreath - I made this adorable floral decor for my front door using a dollar store bucket and dollar store sunflowers.

I used my Cricut to apply a design to the front of the bucket, I inserted a piece of floral foam, and I added the flowers (one at a time). I absolutely LOVE how it turned out... and it's easy to switch out the flowers for various seasons.

For a closer look at all these dollar store finds and DIYs, check out the YouTube video below.

Which of these projects is your favourite? I think mine is the book stack because it can be used for Fall AND Halloween. I love anytime I can save money, time, and storage space.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

High-end FALL decor made using DOLLAR STORE supplies (in LESS than 5 minutes!)

I love simple seasonal decor... and these ideas are budget-friendly, easy, and super cute. They all look high end, and no one would ever guess they came from the dollar store. You are going to LOVE these dollar store FALL DIYs!

The inspiration for these projects came from these adorable Dollarama window clings I found a couple of weeks ago. I absolutely love them!

The red truck was my favourite, and I knew it would make an adorable piece of Fall artwork. I picked up this floating glass from at the dollar store, arranged the window clings between the two pieces of glass, and put the frame back together.

Didn't it turn out cute?!?!

I also used the window clings with a dollar store vase and candles. I filled the vase with popcorn kernals, inserted a candle, and added window clings to the outside of the glass. 

I think this is a really clever piece of decor, and because I didn't use any glue or adhesive, I can change up the vase later.

I also created a similar piece of decor with a larger vase. For this one, I didn't use any window clings, but I set it on top of a dollar store candle holder that I painted with white chalk paint.

I also found this iridescent vase and fake wheat at my local dollar store. The vase is very "on trend", and I love this colour for Fall.

Doesn't it look high-end with the print I designed? (PS-You can download this print for FREE here.

Here's a look at all the projects together. Pretty great for DIYs that take less than 5 minutes!

Get a closer look at all the Fall dollar store DIYs in the video below.

Which is your favourite? I think the window cling artwork is mine. I love that I can easily reuse the frame for Halloween and Christmas. All I need to do is change out the window clings. It doesn't get easier and/or more budget friendly!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the FALL finds and DIYs here.

First Day of School 2022

Today is the first day of school for my boys... which is always a bit of a sad day for me. The lazy days of summer have come to an end, and the crazy school/hockey schedule is just beginning. And I was extra teary this morning as my oldest son headed out for his LAST first day of school. Luckily, my boys let me take a few pictures to document the occassion. 

As always, we started the day with pancakes in the shapes of their Grades.

Then, we took our traditional photos holding 8x10s from the first day of school the year before.

Grade 12...

Grade 10...

Grade 8...

After school, we'll all share a special treat, and talk about the day. I can't wait! 😁

Happy first day of school everyone!!!!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

FREE Halloween Watercolour Print

I love designing seasonal prints, and I just finished creating an adorable Halloween watercolour. It looks fantastic in a dollar store frame or attached to a dollar store clipboard, and you can download your copy for free below.

To download your copy: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Enjoy your free print, and Happy Halloween!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You may also be interested in the Halloween ideas here.

And this fun video!

FREE First Day of School Photo Props

The first day of school is an important milestone for kids, and it's important to document it in photos. Over the years, I have always made it a priority to take "first day of school" pictures of my boys, and today I'm sharing fun (and FREE) photo props. These are so adorable!!!

If you want to make a super cute photo frame, start with a piece of dollar store foam core, and cut the inside out with an X-acto knife.

Then, use a ruler and markers to make lines on the form core... so that it resembles a piece of loose leaf.

You can leave it "as is", or you can decorate it with the pictures below. 

I printed the pictures, cut them out, and used a glue stick to attach them to the frame. Cute, right?!?!

To download the pictures for free: click on the pictures below, save them to your computer, and print like regular 8 1/2 x 11 sheets. I printed mine at my local copy store (Staples).

You can also print the pictures on cardstock, attach them to pencils with tape, and use them as props for a DIY photo booth.

You can get a closer look at my favourite back to school photo ideas in the short video I made below.

How do you document the first day of school? I hope you like my back to school photo ideas and FREE printable photo props.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like these school lunch HACKS.

The BEST dollar store finds and DIYs for FALL

I love saving money, so it's not surprising that I am always scouring the dollar store for fantastic deals, cool finds, and budget friendly DIY supplies. Today, I'm sharing five wonderful dollar store finds and DIYs for Fall. You are going to love these!

1) Budget-friendly FALL artwork - I absolutely LOVE this piece of Fall decor, and no one would ever guess that it's a FREE print in a dollar store frame! You can also pop the print onto a dollar store clipboard so it can easily be changed out for different seasons and holidays.

Grab your FREE "hello pumpkin" print here.

2) Fall pumpkins - I spotted these adorable Fall pumpkins in my local Dollarama, and I thought they were super cute. What do you think?

3) Reusable lunch containers - With Fall comes "back to school", and the dollar store has many options for reusable lunch containers. Here are two of my favourite options...

 

4) Affordable school lunch snacks - The dollar store has a large variety of affordable school lunch snacks. Stock up now to avoid scrambling the night before school starts. 🤣

5) Pool noodles and garland - I know it might seem strange to buy pool noodles for Fall, but they are the perfect DIY supply for creating Fall decor. I used pool noodles, dollar store garland, and a stick from my yard to make adorable (large) pumpkins for my home. Cute, right? You can find the step-by-step instructions here.

For a closer look at all five of these dollar store finds and DIYs for FALL check out my YouTube video below.

Do you love saving money on back to school items and seasonal Fall decor? Which is your favourite item on my list? 

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the Fall decorating ideas here.

Simple and Delicious HOMEMADE Ice Cream Cake... with an ice cream sandwich base

I love a simple dessert... and an ice cream cake is perfect for summer. My boys put this one together earlier this week, and it turned out great. You won't believe how EASY this 5 ingredient cake is to make.

To make this cake, you'll need:

• a box of ice cream sandwiches
• chocolate sauce
• Cool Whip (frozen dessert topping)
• Oreos
• mini M&Ms (candy coated chocolate candies

Then: layer the ice cream sandwiches on the bottom of a baking dish, add a layer of chocolate and crushed cookies, ice with softened Cool Whip, sprinkle with more crushed cookies, drizzle with chocolate sauce, and top with mini M & Ms.

For more detailed instructions, check out this 3 minute video.

Seriously... this recipe is a "must try"!

It tastes even better than it looks.

Let me know if you make this recipe, and let me know what you think. I know it was a hit with my husband and sons. 😀

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also enjoy the recipe here.